The stage is set for the much anticipated FIFA World Cup which will be held in Russia from the 14th of June to the 15th of July 2018. A total of 32 teams will comprise some of the best players in world football, making it ever so challenging to predict a winner.

However, based on our opinion, we reckon these four teams will make it to the semi-finals of the competition.

But first, let’s take a look the eight groups,

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Two teams from each group will make it to the Round of 16 at the end of the group stage.

Teams in the Round of 16 (Prediction)

Group A: Egypt, Uruguay

Group B: Portugal, Spain

Group C: France, Denmark

Group D: Argentina, Croatia

Group E: Brazil, Costa Rica

Group F: Germany, Mexico

Group G: Belgium, England

Group H: Poland, Columbia

The 16 teams will be trimmed down to 8 before being reduced to 4 in the all-important Quarter Finals.

We reckon these four teams will make it to the semi-finals of the competition this year,

France

Belgium

Germany

Portugal

We feel Eygpt will go as far as the Quarterfinals with Mohammed Salah in the form of his life.

However, England, Portugal Argentina, Columbia, and Brazil will also have a good chance of making it to the semis.

All eyes will be on Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohammed Salah, and Eden Hazard who we believe will be at their individual best. Messi, who failed to take Argentina past Germany in the 2014 finals will try to up his game and be at his very best this time around.

“We feel that it’s now or never. Because this is it, we have to think that this could be the last for this group of players. [The players] have a debt with ourselves. We don’t owe the fans anything because we always give our 100 percent and we’ve reached three finals [from 2014],” said Messi earlier this year.